First up is the powder room by Tamara Kaye-Honey of House of Honey. Tamara tells LUXE she viewed the powder room as an opportunity to create “a magical little space that’s fun yet sophisticated.” We think she hit the nail on the head. We can’t get enough of this space, which comes to life with a vivacious, youthful design and an emphasis on reflective surfaces that spark a certain liveliness that speaks to the mid-century atmosphere.

Thomas Lavin designed a peaceful and masculine guest bedroom in the show home. With clean lines and a soothing, neutral color palette, this room feels not only grounded, but welcoming. Shades by Crossville covers the floor, which is topped by a Peruvian rug to add a touch of warmth to the room.

It’s impossible to miss our Origins collection in this bathroom of The Christopher Kennedy Compound, designed by Christopher Kennedy, himself. Kennedy tells LUXE he wanted “to create spaces that uplift you and put a smile on your face.” Between the crisp white accents and peaceful green and blue palette of the bathroom, it’s hard to feel anything but happy in this space!

A calm, desert palette influenced the dining room, designed by Jiun Ho, giving a subtle nod to the Palm Springs topography. We’ve spotted Shades by Crossville on the floor, which complements the primitive yet polished look of this entire space. This is definitely a space designed to gather in with friends.

Dynamic design duo Jaime Rummerfield and Ron Woodson teamed up to create a lush living room in The Christopher Kennedy Compound. Rummerfield says they wanted the space “to reflect the heyday of Palm Springs” and the end result does just that. We’re excited to see Shades by Crossville covering the floor and the same chic desert palette continuing throughout the entirety of the home.

For a quick recap, the project is named after its creator, Christopher Kennedy, a Palm Springs interior designer with a knack for combining luxurious modernism with mid-century architecture. The show house featured the latest and greatest in modern design, including many of our very own Crossville tile collections, and was a centerpiece during this year’s Modernism Week.

We’re happy to announce that LUXE Magazine is featuring The Christopher Kennedy Compound in its latest issue. The 18-page spread is featured in the Los Angeles and Southern California editions (and on the cover, to boot!) and can be purchased at venues across the country. If you pick up a copy, you’ll find a wide array of Crossville tile sprinkled throughout the pages!

We couldn’t be more pleased with the end result of this project. Nearly 4,000 people visited the home in 10 days, with gross ticket sales reaching almost $100,000. Proceeds went to benefit Modernism Week Palm Springs and its efforts to preserve this elegant and stylistic architectural heritage.

We won’t spoil the surprise (although we’re happily scattering images throughout this post!), but this issue of LUXE Magazine isn’t the one you want to miss! To jog your memory on Modernism Week, take a peek at this post from earlier in the year. For specific details on the specific Crossville products featured throughout the house, review this post.

Keep your eyes on our social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest) throughout the week as we feature different rooms around this fabulous house!

This very special #TileTuesday announcement is brought to you by our latest and greatest…

Basalt by Crossville

Powerful

Confident

Commanding

We are thrilled to announce Basalt by Crossville, a new line of exquisite porcelain stone to our Crossville collections.

Reminiscent of timeless volcanic stone, Basalt features fine graining, authentic undertones, and the subtle look of crystallized magma for added sophistication. Specifically designed to look like basalt volcanic stone, the collection has calibrated edges that add to the natural look and feel of the product, providing an additional layer of texture and character.

Another option is to sprinkle pops of color across an otherwise neutral background. Installing white or cream porcelain across the majority of the space and dropping in hints of complementary mosaics will allow you to experience the best of both worlds. Our Crossville Mosaics provides the right mix to accomplish this look.

On the other hand, if you’re of the “all or nothing” mentality, don’t shy away from color. Pick a color that will complement your room’s palette and go big or go home! A strong installation of colorful mosaics makes a wonderful centerpiece and talking point for visitors. Turn to our Glass Blox for an exciting range of hues.

Beyond the selection of style and color palette, you also have sizes to consider. Mosaics are offered in a mix of sizes options, inviting custom configurations. Small squares, brick patterns, a blend of varied sizes – the range of choices are a fun way to spice up your design with dramatic focal points or beautiful backdrops that envelop your space in stunning shimmer and color.

For the ultimate show-stopper in mosaics, consider reflective glass tiles that will catch the light and add sparkle to your space. You can add these subtly, for a hint of glamour. Below, touches of our Sideview glass collection enhance this kitchen area as the ideal accessory for the overall look.

Or you can really create a statement by installing glass mosaics en masse. You really can’t get much more bold and dauntless than this look with our Sideview collection! In this design the bling of the glass mosaics is balanced with the subtlety of our Reclamation collection on the floor. These tiles blend beautifully into this design and help accent the greatest elements of the space: the large walk-in shower, and crisp white trim and cabinetry.

Mosaics offer designers and homeowners alike a diverse playground of opportunity. Whether you want to go subtle or bold, traditional or modern, serene or loud, mosaics can open up the door to reimagine your home.

For more information on Crossville mosaics, be sure to check out our weekly #MosaicMonday posts on Facebook and Twitter.

For centuries, artisans and builders have chosen tile. Today, porcelain tile is quickly rising in the ranks to the number one choice in new home builds and remodels – but do you know why? We could write you a laundry list of reasons why porcelain tile deserves “best in show,” but we’ve managed to whittle our list down to five benefits of porcelain tile that we find most compelling.

Ready to fall in love with porcelain? Let the countdown begin:

Strength & Durability
Porcelain tile is kiln-fired at a high temperature, which drives out water, and burns out impurities to create an extremely dense nearly non-porous surface that is strong and long-lasting. The density of porcelain combined with its high-breaking strength makes it more durable and better-suited for high traffic areas. For this reason, porcelain serves as a particularly good choice for interior flooring in a home with children and pets! To round out the strength and durability front, porcelain tile is also fire and frost-resistant.

Easy Maintenance
As mentioned above, kiln-firing at such high temperatures drives out water, which makes porcelain tile impenetrable to water and stains. Additionally, porcelain easily thrives in extreme temperatures. The surface is highly resistant to scratches because of its strength. Maintaining porcelain is as easy as thoroughly wiping up any messes or spills. Thoroughly rinse off any dirty dish water splashes and dry with a soft cloth or buffing pad to enhance the shine of porcelain tile. In most cases there is no need for polishing, waxing, or sealing porcelain – an added bonus!

Versatility
Our favorite benefit of porcelain tile is its versatility. Whether you are on the hunt for large format tiles to create linear, minimalistic spaces, or want to design your own pattern of vibrant and colorful mosaics, porcelain will accommodate you. Porcelain can be glazed or unglazed and is available in a wide spectrum of finishes and textures. The options for patterns and colors make this an excellent design choice for residential and commercial installations alike.

Hypoallergenic
Fairly self-explanatory, porcelain tile is hypoallergenic. Again, due to high firing temperatures, porcelain tile is inhospitable to mites, mold, germs, and bacteria. People with allergies or asthma can rest easy in a home with tile flooring – no pet dander or pollen will get caught up in porcelain.

Copycat
Porcelain tile is excellent at mimicking other materials, styles, and finishes. Tile manufacturers have discovered how to create the look of everything from natural stone to wall paper and wood. In fact, porcelain mimicking hardwood flooring can look so much like traditional hardwood flooring it is difficult to spot the difference! Unlike real wood, porcelain tile is not susceptible to moisture damage nor does it exhibit extreme expansion with temperature changes; the surface will stay cool in warm climates and with tile, you can install radiant heating to keep your toes warm in the cooler months. How’s that for impressive?

All Laminam by Crossville 5.6 large format porcelain flooring panels are in compliance with the installers’ position statement requiring a minimum 5.5 mm thickness.

As the category of thin, large format porcelain tile is emerging on the U.S. market stage, our industry is rallying to create standards for product use and installation. While TCNA, ANSI, and ISO work to establish product standards for manufacturing that will eventually set the benchmarks by which the quality of materials will be evaluated, others in our industry are stepping up to ensure best use and practices related to these unique products in the interim.

“Due to the lack of standards for these products, the NTCA, TCAA and IUBAC recommend that tile contractors not install thin porcelain tile panels in any thickness less than 5.5 mm for floor installations. It is our assertion that installations of thin porcelain tiles that are no less than 5.5 mm thick may be successfully accomplished in properly prepared floor applications with the proper care and processes.”

This collective declaration is important and welcome news for the industry–and particularly for our Laminam by Crossville brand. All our large format, thin porcelain tile panels for the floor, known as our Laminam 5.6 collection, are 5.6mm–exceeding the stated requirements of NTCA, TCAA and IUBAC. We have always advocated the use of a 5.6mm-thick profile for these panels to ensure the level of high quality, technical performance floor installations demand.

The collective position statement concludes with the following information:

“The tile contractor should be aware that significant training and education is required to successfully install these products and that an investment in tools and equipment is necessary. The manufacturer of the tile and setting materials recommendations should be secured in writing prior to installation and the contractor should follow these instructions carefully or potentially be exposed to increased risk and liability.”

Once again, we’re ahead of the game with our Laminam by Crossville brand. We’re a leader in offering installation training and professional recommendations regarding this new product category. For more than a year, we’ve been leading training workshops across the nation to give installers the knowledge and know-how to work with this tile category effectively. We even offer training tips on our Laminam by Crossville YouTube channel.

Laminam by Crossville products are available as wall installations and floor installations. For full information, visit http://laminambycrossville.com.

The most popular and practical material for a backsplash is… you guessed it: tile. A tile backsplash protects your kitchen walls from splashes that result in stains and mold, as well as greasy food splatters that come from cooking over a hot stove. While it’s easy to grasp the reason to have a backsplash, it’s much more difficult to pick a backsplash.

With the endless possibilities and products in today’s market, it can be a challenge to choose a backsplash for your space. Tiles range in all shapes, sizes, colors, materials, and patterns. While some homeowners lean towards a traditional and classic white subway tiles, others may be more drawn towards colorful mosaics that add a fresh layer of color and light to their space.

If you’re currently on the hunt for a new backsplash (or, if you’re like some of us and just want to browse the eye candy for future renovation ideas!), we’re here to help you. Here are some of our backsplash-worthy collections to spark your imagination.

Savoy
Reminiscent of the iconic tiles favored by 19th-century architects and artisans, Savoy Porcelain Stone® tile replicates the handmade look of yesteryear in colors, shapes and sizes made for advancing modern-day designs. The range of options in this collection invites lots of design creativity and custom styling. The potential looks range from traditional and classic to retro and modern.

MixologyCrossville’s Mixology is an exquisitely wrought tile collection made up of cast-metal sculptural pieces that add a truly unique layer of detail to a design. By installing a mosaic of these nostalgic and old-world tiles, you can create a one-of-a-kind space that ups the elegance and grandeur of a traditional kitchen. You can also play with smaller Mixology accents to add a more subtle layer of interest to an industrial or contemporary space.

Modern Mythology
This natural stone collection offers soft, subtle hues of travertine, the casual warmth of slate, or the polished elegance of black and white marble. A happy combination of days past and things to come, Modern Mythology opens up just about any door you could hope to find. Adding texture to your kitchen space will make otherwise one-dimensional walls spring to life; it may seem like a minor detail, but that extra feature can really tie together an entire room’s look. Create a simple and affordable accent line with these tiles, or design a wall pattern that’s sure to wow your dinner guests!

Ebb & Flow
If you like something with a little more translucence and reflection, Ebb & Flow may be the backsplash for you. These mosaic wall tiles give the illusion of three-dimensional patterning, creating an allure that’s bound to make your kitchen sparkle. These tiles make for elegant, dramatic statement pieces in large format designs, but can also add a beautiful pop of color and contrast in a neutral kitchen design. Regardless of how you design your space with Ebb & Flow, these tiles guarantee an upgrade in elegance.

Limestone PorcelainCrossville’s Limestone embraces hues and textures mined from the world’s finest quarries, creating soft earth tones that suit modern and traditional spaces alike. If you lean more towards traditional refinement and have a penchant for patterns, the Limestone collection offers a range of options to upgrade your space. Consider mimicking this square inlay over more subtle and neutral tiles to add a decorative accent to your kitchen walls.

Stainless SteellWhether you take Crossville’s Stainless Steel all the way from the countertops to the base of the cabinetry or create a band just tall enough to keep the walls free from splashes and splatters, stainless steel is an sleek and style-forward choice for just about any kitchen style. A seamless and symmetrical row of stainless steel can create a cohesive atmosphere that resembles a professional and industrial kitchen. Or, take it a step farther by designing a classic mosaic pattern with this modern material to create a sophisticated and luminescent backdrop. The reflective surface of stainless steel changes with the intensity and direction of the light, making it an excellent choice for a kitchen with exposure to large windows or undermount lighting.

For more Crossville products and inspiration, check out our newly redesigned website: crossvilleinc.com.